1     
MEDICAL RESPITE CARE PILOT PROGRAM

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan

5     
Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     Committee Note:
9          The Health Reform Task Force recommended this bill.
10               Legislative Vote:     9 voting for     0 voting against     2 absent
11     General Description:
12          This bill requires the Department of Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver or state plan
13     amendment for medical respite care for homeless individuals.
14     Highlighted Provisions:
15          This bill:
16          ▸     defines terms;
17          ▸     requires the Department of Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver or state plan
18     amendment to provide reimbursement to a facility that provides residential medical
19     respite care to a homeless individual; and
20          ▸     establishes a reporting requirement.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     ENACTS:
27          26-18-424, Utah Code Annotated 1953

28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 26-18-424 is enacted to read:
31          26-18-424. Medicaid waiver for respite care facility that provides services to
32     homeless individuals.
33          (1) As used in this section:
34          (a) "Adult in the expansion population" means an adult:
35          (i) described in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII); and
36          (ii) not otherwise eligible for Medicaid as a mandatory categorically needy individual.
37          (b) "Homeless" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26-18-411.
38          (c) "Medical respite care" means short-term housing with supportive medical services.
39          (d) "Medical respite facility" means a residential facility that provides medical respite
40     care to homeless individuals.
41          (2) Before January 1, 2022, the department shall apply for a Medicaid waiver or state
42     plan amendment with CMS to choose a single medical respite facility to reimburse for services
43     provided to an individual who is:
44          (a) homeless; and
45          (b) an adult in the expansion population.
46          (3) The department shall choose a medical respite facility best able to serve homeless
47     individuals who are adults in the expansion population.
48          (4) If the waiver or state plan amendment described in Subsection (2) is approved,
49     while the waiver or state plan amendment is in effect, the department shall submit a report to
50     the Health and Human Services Interim Committee each year before November 30 detailing:
51          (a) the number of homeless individuals served at the facility;
52          (b) the cost of the program; and
53          (c) the reduction of health care costs due to the program's implementation.
54          (5) Through administrative rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
55     Administrative Rulemaking Act, the department shall further define and limit the services,
56     described in this section, provided to a homeless individual.